For some Christians, the observance of Lent begins this week. And that reminds me of a quote from Benjamin Franklin: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

What does Lent have to do with Ben Franklin’s wise quote? Quite a bit, actually!

Many Christian denominations set aside the six-week period leading up to Easter as a time of preparation. They prepare for Easter through self-examination and repentance, additional times of prayer, and even self-denial.

It’s not unusual for conversations to focus on what someone has given up for Lent. In decades past, families may have abstained from meat either for the whole season or just on Fridays. But these days people often give up a favorite treat such as chocolate or coffee.

If your church does not mark Lent as a formal observation, you may be wondering what the fuss is about. How does giving up dessert relate to Christ’s death and resurrection?

Lent is not really about giving up chocolate, coffee, or even meat. The focus of Lent is preparation, which brings us back to Ben Franklin’s quote.

Easter is more than just a celebration of spring or the Easter Bunny. It’s more than an excuse to purchase baskets, chocolate, and new clothes. Easter celebrates Christ’s victory over sin and death and the devil. It’s the most important day of the year for us because the resurrection proves God the Father accepted the sacrifice of God the Son. We do our children a disservice if we don’t redirect their attention away from what the world wants us to emphasize.To treat this day as if it were just another day on the calendar is to belittle its significance. If we want to be intentional about recognizing the importance of Easter, we need to prepare our hearts…and help our families prepare their hearts. To consider how different our lives would be if the Resurrection never happened. To wonder anew at the privilege of being restored to the Father through a gift that cost the life of His Son.

Whether or not your church observes Lent, consider Ben Franklin’s wisdom. “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” If we fail to prepare our hearts for the most important celebration of all, we will prepare to fail in recognizing the significance of this day on the Christian calendar…and in our own life. 

Are you planning to give up a favorite treat for Lent? How about something more personal…and life-changing? A grudge? Unforgiveness? Resentment? Giving up chocolate means nothing if we refuse to give up those destructive things that corrupt our spiritual life. Christ gave His life for us. Surely it’s not too much to ask for us to give up the things that grieve His Spirit.

So what will you give up?